Category Archives: links

Have you Checked Out Kirtsy Yet?

It’s All Business Baby

I was having a recent twitchat with some of my fellow biz friends and mentioned that I had a few book suggestions. I figured it would be easier to just write up a blog post about it, so here we go.

These are the books that have really grabbed me in one way or another:

The Boss of You by Lauren Bacon & Emira Mears – I just did a Skype interview with these two the other day. I’m about 2/3 of the way through the book and I have to say, I love it. They’ve got a lot of info about things we should consider about our business before getting started. They cover all the bases from your business plan, who your clients/customers are and how to reach them, networking, marketing, you name it. Good stuff and easy to read; just like chatting with friends. I’ll post the link to my interview once I edit it.

The E-Myth by Michael Gerber – This book came highly recommended by damn near everyone at SXSW the year I went. I actually drove out that night and picked it up. Heck, even with our partying and the conference, I think I finished it that weekend. Easy read and tons of good information about why many small businesses fail or just become overwhelming.

Awakening the Entrepreneur Within by Michael Gerber – I’m currently reading this one. I was part of a teleconference where Michael was talking about this new book and venture and it was very powerful. I’ve been dying to read it, but I keep telling myself that I’ll get more from it reading it straight through instead of bit by bit so I keep putting it off.

The Savvy Gal’s Guide to Online Networking by Diana K. Danielson – I stumbled upon this book somehow and thought it sounded like a fun topic. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I actually learned from it. It’s a super easy read, great to toss in the purse on the way to waiting somewhere. I really think you’ll learn a tip or too.

Small Time Operator: How to Start Your Own Business, Keep Your Books, Pay Your Taxes and Stay Out of Trouble by Bernard B. Kamoroff – This book was recommended to Lauren & Emira through the genius behind Sublime Stitching, Jenny Hart (heard her speak at SXSW in ’07 and I was blown away by what she and the other biz ladies had to say about being the boss and growing your business your way – here’s a link from that Boss Lady panel discussion). It’s rumored to be one helluva handbook and really touches upon the “what now” sort of issues around growth.

The Innovator’s Dilemma: The Revolutionary Book that Will Change the Way You Do Business by Clayton M. Christensen – This book also came highly recommended (and I’ve yet to read it) from a business workshop I went to a month or so ago. Our “expert” took the time to bring it with him to show us so that we’d all take the time to read it. I hear there are some fascinating stories from many startups.

I’m also interested in checking out Real You Incorporated: 8 Essentials for Women Entrepreneurs by Kaira Sturdivant Rouda. She’s got a real estate background and that’s certainly not me, but it still sounds interesting and useful when it comes to working on that branding thing.

I’ve also started poking around some twitter folks profiles and have found some interesting women in biz blogs and communities that I thought I’d share with y’all. Enjoy.

Divapreneur – this is a Ning community of women in business. First and foremost, what a fun name! They seem to have some fun women signed up and some interesting sub-communities. Might just be worth checking out.

Her Big Idea – these gals also have a podcast that might be worth checking out.

Ms. Biz – I had a lot of hope for this site, but I can’t exactly get past the cartoonish banner. It also seems very momprenuer friendly and they do have a blogroll if you want to find other biz bloggers (or twittergals)

Woman Tribune – this site seems more women-centric than biz women-centric, but it seems to be a pretty good community and gives me some ideas for my own community.

Women Bloggers – another blog ring sort of place where you can possibly find other women bloggers – some biz ladies, some moms, some a bit of everything mixed in.

It’s all a start and just some suggestions. Hope it helps you out as much as it’s helped me out.

It’s Official…It’s May

Sometimes Music Videos are Still Good

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Even on a slow day, I can have a three-way. I’m so much cooler online…

I’ll listen to pretty much any kind of music. I’m not a fan of hardcore rap or of funkadelic jazz (no matter how many times I see Herbie Hancock live), but otherwise, I’m not too picky. I love 80’s new wave – what can I say, music was fun back then. Day to day (well, first and foremost, LA radio sucks worse than any market I’ve lived in before) I listen to mellow, singer songwriter stuff or country. Considering we don’t have an AAA station out here, that pretty much rules out listening to the singer songwriter, cafe kind of stuff. So country it is.

The other fun thing about country, they still do real videos and actually have channels that play them! Which of course means that those guys now how to have fun with videos like back in the day (man, sometimes I sound old). The latest video that’s cracking me up is Brad Paisley’s Online. It’s got a great all star cast and completely matches the humor in the lyrics. William Shatner cracks me up – is that blond Marcia Brady??

Check it out (sorry it can’t be embeded, it’s put up directly by BP’s people).

Fun With War Crimes

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My friend’s boyfriend has been hard at work creating a video series. Help it go viral – rate it and favorite it. Check out their trailer…

Here’s what he has to say about the series…

I’ve created a comedy web series that puts the Bush Administration on trial. It’s called “Fun With War Crimes.” You can view the first trailer for the series on YouTube. I think you will like it…

Fun With War Crimes Trailer

(Or just have people do a search on YouTube for Fun With War Crimes.)

If you’re a YouTube subscriber, rate the video, comment, make it a favorite.

The series launches on May 1st, the 5th anniversary of Bush declaring “Mission Accomplished” in Iraq. We at FWWC are reaching out to like minded people. So pass the link on to as many people as you can, and ask them to do the same. If we do our viral job right, by tomorrow, I will be in an orange jump suit in Guantanamo Bay.

But if you don’t like the trailer. If you think it makes me unpatriotic, a bad American. Please, pass the link on to everyone you think will despise it, too. We’ll take the hate views. (Does anybody know how to get a hold of Bill O’Reilly?)

Other places of Fun With War Crimes interest:

YouTube Subscribers: subscribe to the 8 part series

Our site: funwithwarcrimes.com (A teaser page. Our full site launches with the series May 1.)

MySpace: www.myspace.com/funwithwarcrimes

Thanks! And enjoy the trailer.

Some Fabulous Women in Business

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I had posted this in my local LWL group yesterday, but thought I’d post it here as well. I know I’ve got some business women (and some LWL gals) that read my blog so I thought you might find it interesting.

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I’ve been poking around the web today, catching up on my many (many) blogs and I came across some stuff you guys might be interested in. It might be just the motivation someone needed today.

First, this is from the 2007 South by Southwest Interactive conference. It’s the audio from the Boss Lady discussion panel . These are some great women that didn’t let anyone tell them they couldn’t do it. By far, my favorite panel in the whole SXSWi ’07 conference.

Second, this is from this week’s BlogHer Business Conference (currently going in NYC). She’s a 64 year old woman that knows nothing about blogging, but knows it’s good business. She’s proof positive that you’re never to old to start a business and you’re never too old to learn something new. Check it out , you just might learn something.

Lastly, there’s been a lot of talk on this board about insurance and our small business options. One of my favorite small business blogs, Shifting Careers addresses this current challenge and let’s us know about the changes on the horizon.

Enjoy!

Free Sports Bra Anyone??

Hello, My Name is LA Blogger Gal…

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And I’m addicted to bath and body products!

I’m not partial to just one product. I’m more than willing to share the love (and the money). That said, if I bought it, I love it! Or well, I just wouldn’t have wasted my money on it. It’s that simple.

My latest favorite find…Klean Bath & Body! I was introduced to the line through Ladies Who Launch – the owner is one of our local members. She was having a leap year sale and well, I lept! I was even lucky enough to meet with the brains and the nose behind the product.

This is some great stuff. So far I’ve only used my Ginger & Tea soap and body spray and the shea butter, but man, they’re great. My bathroom smelled like Ginger & Tea all day long – which we all know is better than what it could smell like! Next up, the pomegranate & fig soap – it smells divine in the bottle, so I can only imagine that it will smell beyond divine on me! 🙂

So check Klean out, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. For what it’s worth, I hear great things about the body scrubs!! 😉 If you decide to give them a whirl (you won’t be sorry) tell them that I sent you!

On an slightly related note…I just love the design of her website. So clean and zen. Very cool.

It’s Party Time! WootWoot!

Welcome to my party, um the Ultimate Blog Party! I wish I could do something, oh.my.god. amazing, but sadly, I’m still a little sick *sigh* So sadly, no cocktails from me. But I can offer you a tasty cuppa tea and some chocolate chip cookies if you’re so inclined. And well, party pro that I am, I won’t let something as a three week-long headcold slow me down! Just keep reading along as the days go on. My doc assures me I’ll be better in not time flat 😉

Let me tell you a little about myself…I’m one of the few non-moms participating. Well, actually, I am a mom, but to the four-legged kind of kids – my handsome tuxedo cat and my feisty little mutt. And as to be expected, both are well loved and some might even say, spoiled. I decided to participate in UBP because I thought it would be a great opportunity to find some new blogs and make some new bloggie friends.

I’m a 30-something, stay-at-home, work-from-home, wife in the greater Los Angeles area. I’m a former disk jockey and teacher (not at the same time) and I’m in the process of launching my own business (thanks to Ladies Who Launch), so I tend to talk about that. A lot. I’m an avid reader, though most of the time, I tend to forget to mention what I’m reading. We go to a lot of concerts and sometimes I get to take pictures. Other times, I get to meet the performers – though not always. I love to take pictures and up until recently, I was a regular participant in Wordless Wednesday.

Here are a couple of my favorites…

A Pedicure & New FlipFlops - What More Could You Ask For?

My bloggie friend Geggie is doing 2 truths and a lie, so I thought I’d copy her play along also. Below you will find 4 true facts about me and 2 lies. It’s your job to guess which is which. Please share your thoughts in the comments. And now, a little more than you ever wanted to know about me…

I’m great friends with my husband’s last ex-girlfriend.
I’ve done phone sex to make a quick buck.
I actually know some people that can take care of that for you (she says in euphemisms).
I’ve partied with Bruce Springsteen.
My husband I have invested in my best friend’s haunted, ghostie business.
I’ve had a couple of my amateur photos published.

So now I just need to find that Mr. Linky thing-a-ma-gig so I can get this show officially on the road. Keep reading along, I promise, I’m a cool chick.

I look forward to meeting all of you!!

ETA: Please feel free to stick around a while – I even have two good reasons to try and entice you…1) I’ll be posting the answers to my Two Truths & a Lie from above and 2) this blog really isn’t all that old and it wouldn’t take you all that long to poke around – maybe check out my Welcome! Welcome! for some more insight into this theory.

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UPDATE: You can find the answers to my 2 truths and a lie over here. I’ll come back later today and check and see if anyone guessed correctly. Now, I must run…

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Did someone mention prizes??? It was hard to choose my favorites, but these seems super useful to me.

Blog Design Provided by: Sweet ‘n Simple Design
$50 gift certificate to Paperlicious Provided by: Paperlicious.com
Skin Care Kit Provided by: Hick Chicks Soap Barn

I also think these are all fun-sounding as well: 20, 21, 36, 39, 41, 60, 67, 70, 91 – so difficult to chose.

Let’s Party – Ultimate Blog Party Style

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I’m planning on participating in the Ultimate Blog Party. I’m not a mom, but I can and do read quite a few mom blogs. Hopefully, there will be some other non-moms participating. I figure it’s a fun way to be a part of something and meet new bloggers. Mind you, with my various biz and other blogs, I’m up to 150 blogs in my Reader, but still. I won’t let that hold me back.

Anyone want to join me in this? Much like NaBloPoMo (which went monthly, did you know??) there are prizes to be had. And this gal loves anything with a prize! It’s only for one week and basically only requires you to make ONE party post during the week of March 7-14th with a link to a Mr. Linky (still learning that part – somewhere in the first, March 7th post? Maybe? Hopefully?). The rest of the time, you blog as usual – I just have to remember not to drop the f-bombs (like I do that so often!). For all the specifics, check out the ~~instructions~~ ~~rules~~ details over at 5 Minutes for Moms.

My understanding is the that the sooner you link up to your party post, the sooner you’ll get some new visitors. And well, hey, once you post that initial party post, the hard stuff is done. After that, it’s back to blogging same as before. So won’t you join me in this mini virtual celebration?? Just click on either the banner above, or the one to the right.

My LA Blog

Life & Ramblings of an LA Blogger Gal